Conservative headquarters is proceeding with plans to replace Howard Flight as the party's candidate in Arundel and South Downs.

Senior elected officers from Flight's association were presented with a list of 10 names in London yesterday, from which they aim to choose his replacement next week.

Andrew MacKay, the deputy chairman in charge of candidates, said the Arundel association "will have an opportunity to interview a diverse group of extremely able candidates, all of whom would grace Westminster and be excellent constituency members".

Flight's local supporters are still determined to force an extraordinary general meeting that would give local members the option of voting against Michael Howard's decision to sack him.

Speaking to Sky TV yesterday, David Davis backed Michael Howard but added: "It's a distraction, there's no doubt about that."

Meanwhile, Theresa Gorman, the former Conservative MP, told UKIP's women's conference: "Mr Howard has more than something of the night about him.

"He has something of the knife about him. Howard Flight deserved no such brutality."

The Guardian reports that more than 200 people applied to become the Conservative candidate in the Arundel and South Downs constituency.